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Pavelski Sidelined a Few Weeks

The Sharks have learned they will be without Joe Pavelski due to a minor procedure performed on a lower body injury and the center will miss a couple of weeks.

“Pavs obviously wasn’t at practice,” said Sharks Head Coach Todd McLellan. “He was hurt the other night and had a minor procedure this morning. He will be out a couple of weeks with a lower body injury.”

During Monday’s practice, Pavelski’s spot was filled by Patrick Marleau, who was flanked by Ryane Clowe and Benn Ferriero. Pavelski may not have the name recognition of many Sharks players, but he a vital cog for the men in teal.

“Pavs plays a huge role,” said McLellan. “Today we moved Patty back in there. He’s accustomed to playing there and we trust him. I think Patty is a tremendous center.”

That is one luxury the Sharks have other clubs don’t. Marleau would eat up the most minutes of any center on many clubs in the NHL, so it is a huge depth advantage for San Jose to be able to slide him over.

With McLellan’s system, it is no big deal what position Marleau is listed at.

“Throughout the game, everybody plays every position anyway,” said Marleau. “It doesn’t matter where you start out.”

Marleau, like Pavelski, plays both on the power play and on the penalty kill and while Marleau will play the pivot, the special teams play will have to be picked up by others.

“This may expose some of our younger players to the penalty kill,” said McLellan.

“Everybody has got to step up,” said Marleau.

The Sharks may or may not call up reinforcements from Worcester.

“We have Brad Staubitz here and he hasn’t played yet,” said McLellan.

REASSIGNEDThe Sharks have also assigned defenseman Joe Callahan to Worcester.

NEXT GAMESan Jose will visit Los Angeles on Tuesday and the contest will be on Comcast SportsNet California, 98.5 KFOX and sjsharks.com.